Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route | Review by Mei

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Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

Ride a group of transportations and tour around the mountain route along one scenic beauty after another.

21 Sep 2026 See More

I finally added the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route to my itinerary this time, and the moment I saw Kurobe Dam with my own eyes, it honestly felt so unreal!

I took all kinds of transportation up the mountain. The higher I went, the colder the air became, but the views also opened up more and more. When I reached the observation deck and looked down over Lake Kurobe, the entire valley was so quiet that all I could hear was the wind. Although it was no longer the season for heavy snow, the patches of remaining snow on the mountaintops combined with the vivid green vegetation created even richer layers. Every casual photo looked like a postcard.

Standing here in the cold wind and looking at the vast scenery in front of me, it felt like all the stress that had built up in daily life was instantly blown away. I really love the sense of peace that nature brings. I recommend that everyone come experience it in person at least once in their life.

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Kumamoto in December was cool and refreshing. As soon as I left the station, I could see Kumamoto Castle towering in the distance. It looked exactly like it did in the photos—the entire castle was dark and imposing, with such a commanding presence that I couldn’t help but stop in my tracks.

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